For over a year and a half, my blog lived at an address separate from my official website. Thanks to the brilliance of the creative folks at ArtistUpgrade, I designed a new room and welcomed my blog into my home.

If you’ve taken the leap to follow this blog, please come with me just one step further to www.teszmillan.com/blog.

I look forward to having you over, where fortune cookies and espresso await you…

“Tesz, I finally managed to clean the garage. I’ve got some boxes with your name on them. Come pick them up.”

When I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Germany back in ’02, I had a treasure chest full of diaries, yearbook, letters, and knick-knacks that had trailed me from my single digits into my double twos. For some reason, I had split them between my mother and father. Probably a repercussion of their long-awaited divorce that ensued that same year.

When I took flight to good ol’ Europa, my mom held onto my beautiful, hand-carved wooden chest from Indonesia, brimming with prepubescent, Junior High memories. My dad had loosely inherited the other half of my memorabilia. I had since collected the wooden cradle from my mom, and inadvertently accused her of holding onto the very same stuff I recently found lingering in my Doodad’s garage several years later. (I know… I can be a pretty sh&*%y daughter at times.)

Anyways, I finally made the trek over to my Doodad’s place and picked up 5 dusty boxes, having no idea what was inside. Old ghosts? Embarrassing proof of my nerdhood? Old papers I would rather leave forgotten?

To my delight, the papers I thought my mother were holding as ransom at last saw the light of day for the first time in probably 10+ years. Old love letters and gifts of promise. My wrinkled music score from “Miss Saigon,” documenting hours of learning an entire musical in German while having no idea what I was really saying. Photo albums of a girl group eaten up by the heartless teeth of Los Angeles.

And then, there they were. My diaries. Oh… the countless pages of moments experienced, thoughts processed, ideas lost to time. My memory account was at last complete. And they now stand together in my office cabinets, sleeping like muted giants, bursting with the stories of a 6-year-old girl, a 15-year-old pop star, a confused 29-year-old, and a stubborn 33-year-old.

I love writing. I love documenting my life. I enjoy writing for clients because it feels like I’m actually journaling for them. It’s capturing a moment. A movement. A miracle. One word, one letter at a time. It’s power will forever stand the test of time. And make each one of us immortal.

Well, not really. But a crew of bees certainly made my life a whole lot better.

I caught a nasty cold over the weekend and was not happy about having to write copy, host phone meetings, and traipse around from one winter holiday event to the other with my snot rag in tow and my head swimming in sick delirium. As I lay in bed watching “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” I started texting with a friend of mine who eagerly recommended his witch doctor remedy…

CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD
1 TEASPOON HONEY
1/4 TEASPOON CINNAMON

My initial reaction: GROSS. I thought… “Ew. Sugar overload.”

But my good friend kept reassuring my stubborn resistance and sent a link to lift my learned mind out of the darkness of ignorance. Not only does the honey+cinnamon combo kick a cold’s boney behind, but it also helps fight against heart disease, ease arthritis pain, and put a smile on the face of the grumpiest of sick children.

Good news: I started feeling better that same night. I have NEVER (and I mean never) recovered from a cold this quickly in my entire life.

Then I thought about a documentary I saw with my main Fuzzy about how we’re pillaging the honey bees’ ecosystem and possibly creating a world that is without the sweetness of their golden ointment. Not only will we be depriving ourselves of this natural healing nectar, but we’re destroying the Earth’s ability to reproduce the fruits and vegetables that we need to survive. The more we carelessly strip our world of an environment that supports the honey bee to travel freely from flower to tree to plant to hive, the more we put ourselves in a truly sticky situation.

Check out the documentary “Vanishing of the Bees” at www.vanishingbees.com, and see why these little creatures are the key to our survival.

Let others know...

Like this:

I finally understand why singers have a hard time singing in front of their friends…

“Opening Vulnerability”

I had the honor of writing a dear friend‘s new professional bio today. She’s an amazing performer with a good heart and a beautiful soul. We did several interviews where she described important moments in her life. Some I knew. Some I had actually witnessed. Many were new to me. We both had a wonderful time catching up, knowing we were coming together to help each other along our chosen career paths.

After completing the interviews and parting ways, I knew I had captured all the information I needed to begin writing. But as I sat there, staring at the screen of my desktop computer, a shiver of fear tingled up and down my spine. To my dismay, ugly, irrational, deformed thoughts began to creep their way through the dark corners of my mind.

“What if I screw up?”

“What if she hates what I write?”

“What if I suddenly lose all ability to write or read?”

“What if my fingers lock in place, and I can no longer move my fingers to type?”

“What if I get amnesia and can’t even remember my own name, let alone hers?”

“WHAT NOW?”

And so I sat. And waited. And waited some more. Until I finally gathered the courage to hold my breath and take the leap… to write for a friend.

Numerous times during my stint as a singer, I overheard people complaining about the trauma and tribulation of singing in front of friends, family, neighbors, or just some bloke they ran into the other day. I never understood their anxiety ridden convo…

UNTIL NOW.

It’s scary. It’s like walking into that nightmare where you’re the only one in the room who didn’t get the memo that you were actually supposed to wear clothes to the party. Vulnerable and naked, you expose your hidden dreams, your fragile hope that you don’t suck, your most vivid creation for people with direct access to your Achilles tendon to look at, experience, and scrutinize. Yikes.

Nevertheless, today I delivered. And I’m still waiting for her feedback. Hoping it comes back with a thumbs up, or at least a kind gesture as to how to make it better. I’ll continue to wait, grinding my teeth. Somehow I’m stubbornly trying to convince myself that this is all in my head. But the world in my head is much grander and more impossible to handle at times than the one I’m physically living in.

Alas, at the end of the day, I know I’ll get through this useless drama with my friendship in tact and my heart in my mouth. Carrying such deep rooted joy and humble honor that I get to do what I love for the very people that I love.

Which is why I found Marie Forleo‘s latest Q&A video to be the right remedy at the right time. Before changing my career from singing professionally to being a freelance copywriter, I definitely had to ask myself if I was just burnt out or really feeling the need to shift career paths.

Wish I could show my former self this video. It would have helped a lot.

Enjoy! And if you’re also feeling the burn, jump into the snow (or your pool if you’re one of my Zoni neighbors).

Like this:

When I was growing up, specializing was the way to get things done. Assembly lines made our lives more efficient, more succinct, more predictable. Nowadays, models must become actors, computer programmers must know how to speak in public, and writers must know how to market on the Internet.

I’m on the mailing list for Louis Vuitton Deutschland, and they sent me a link to their newest advertising campaign. It’s ultra sexy and their brand messaging knocks it out of the ballpark. While I was taken away by the music, the images, and the movement of “L’Invitation Au Voyage,” I couldn’t help but ask myself,

“How is she able to run on ginormous, uneven cobblestones
wearing $3000 5-inch pumps?!”

If that were me, I’d knock my ankle right out of its socket as I came plummeting down in a pile of dirty mud. But a talented young lady such as our gamey LV heroine, must look good, emote for the camera, run well, AND know how to pilot a hot air balloon all by herself.

Is this how the modern day business owner feels? Marketing, writing, building, researching, creating, speaking, networking, falling down, getting back up, making a million, losing your way, winning the prize. It’s all there. And we are the model making our product look breath-taking and fabulous, all within the framework of our abilities and vast imagination.

If this is the world we live in, then multitask away, and feel no guilt for wanting to do it all… and doing it exceptionally well.

Let others know...

Like this:

“Yowza! That’s Some Serious Meat On a Stick…”Photo courtesy of Mire Images

I saw. I ate. I delivered.

Read on to understand just how amazing my time with the boys at Fogo de Chão really was…

And yes, I am STILL digesting.

“You know you’ve got a pretty darn remarkable meal when tableside dialogue turns into a championship series between “Mmmm!” and “MMM-Hmmm!” This is exactly what happened when I sat down for lunch after my interview with the managing boys over at Fogo de Chão. I went over there to chat about their involvement with the event “Play All Day & All Night” being put on by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. Never having been to the authentic Brazilian steakhouse before, I didn’t quite know what to expect besides chow on a stick.

“The first piece of delectable meat I encountered was no hunky Brazilian bodybuilder asking me if I wanted a little Curacao with my eye candy. Instead I was greeted by four self-spinning spits of succulent steak lewdly dancing inside a display case, daring me punch through the glass and take a bite. Peeling my eyes away from such an impressive welcome, I was met by the charming, boyish grin of Head Chef and Assistant General Manager Joao Zanrosso. In perfect Gaucho (Brazilian cowboy) style, he whisked me away to a room where he and General Manager Evan Christopher proceeded to win me over with their genuine passion and love for all things Brazil.

“Fogo de Chão prides itself on taking care of its people. It’s why they partnered up with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. Every Fogo de Chão restaurant around the country supports a charity of their choosing – one it truly believes in. Ever since a heartfelt meeting with the President and VP of the Boys & Girls Club back when the restaurant opened its doors just over three years ago, Scottsdale Fogo de Chão has been avidly supporting their charity partner with live events and in-house fundraising.

“Their presence at “Play” this coming Saturday evening is no small feat. They’re bringing not only two very large, very cumbersome grills, they’re also bringing a small army of their best chefs, all led by Head Chef Joao to deliver some of the best grilled meat the state of Arizona has ever smelled, let alone tasted. On the menu for the lucky few who get to sample these Brazilian delicacies are Picanha, prime sirloin seasoned with sea salt (flown in from the Brazilian sea!) or flavored with garlic (grown locally!), and Linguica, slow roasted pork sausages (yum!). All proceeds generated by Fogo de Chão at the event will go to support the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale.

“There’s so much to be said about the food, which is breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but there’s even more to behold with the integrity of the restaurant and its tight knit crew of chefs and servers. They care. And I don’t mean, “Oh yeah, we know how to grill” type care. I mean, they really, TRULY care about their customers and their team of people. You’ll see them bend over backwards to put together a special dinner for a desperate husband who remembered his anniversary at the very last minute. They’ll secure over 500 pounds of the Valley’s best meat to serve to hungry football players during the Fiesta Bowl. They’ll even put out fires for you (literally – just ask Evan). On top of all this great customer service, they train every single employee for at least six months on everything from food safety laws and regulations to how to prepare and personally serve their internationally renowned menus.

“This is not your typical restaurant serving meat on a stick. This is a family. Your dining experience, whether at the restaurant or at the “Play All Day & All Night” event, will leave you feeling like you were personally invited to taste the secret recipes of Joao’s great great great grandmother. And despite eating so much you feel like you’re about to burst at the seams, you’ll squeal every time a stick of meat makes a quick stop at your table to change your life forever.”

Experience Fogo de Chão at Play All Day & All Night!

WHEN:
Saturday, November 10 from 6:45 to 11 p.m.

WHERE:
Salt River Fields
7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ

TICKETS:
Regular – $20
Tickets with food & spirit tastings – $75
For a full list of ticket options, visit www.bgcs.org/events.
Tickets will also be available for purchase the night of the event.
Photo ID required for alcohol tastings.